Bonds

Municipals sold off across the yield curve amid elevated selling pressure as the first day of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting began Tuesday, with the one-year muni well above 2.5% and the 10-year surpassing 3%. U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities ended down. Triple-A benchmark yields rose eight to 10 basis points, depending on

Midwest voters will make a range of decisions in the November election from ballot measures that impact their schools’ fiscal fortunes to governor picks that will shape future decision making. The governor’s offices in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Incumbents in all

Municipals were weaker on the front end of the curve ahead outperforming larger losses on U.S. Treasuries that saw the two- and three-year yields rise to near 4% and the highest they’ve been since 2007. Triple-A muni yields rose another five basis points on the short end while UST rose up to seven. Two- and

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has voted to amend its Rule G-40 to allow municipal advisors to use testimonials in advertisements and Rule A-12 to make changes to Form A-12 on registration. The changes to G-40 will amend the current provision that states “a municipal advisor shall not, directly or indirectly, publish circulate or distribute

Ohio-based ProMedica Health System lost its final investment grade rating when Moody’s Investors Service cut the credit citing ongoing losses as the system struggles with ongoing COVID-19 related challenges that have hit its senior care business especially hard. Moody’s dropped the rating two notches to Ba2 from Baa3 Monday and warned of further deterioration by

New York City could use municipal bonds as a way to finance better outcomes for migrants coming to New York from Ukraine and the southern border, city Comptroller Brad Lander said. Asylum seekers coming to the Big Apple could benefit from a new economic initiative tied into an inclusive strategy, Lander said during a webinar

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority mediation ended Saturday morning and the Oversight Board is proposing that litigation commence, as the sides were unable to reach an agreement. “[S]harp differences over what a reasonable settlement is” remain, the board said. The sides “also differ on some key legal issues.” The current round of mediation started in

Municipals were weaker on the front end of the curve as selling pressure mounted all week while U.S. Treasuries were mixed and equities ended down again. Investors will be greeted with a lackluster calendar of a mere $1.4 billion total and only two deals over $100 million as issuers hold back with the Federal Open

With their revenues beating expectations through stronger-than-expected tax receipts and federal pandemic aid, many states have used the extra funds to pay down unfunded pension liabilities accrued in some cases over decades, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts report on state pension systems. The combination of increased contributions and surging investment returns “has had a

The municipal market is rattled by legislation pending before the Senate that would require governments to standardize their financial reports, with opponents warning it would be onerous and costly and ultimately could shrink tax-exempt supply. Supporters counter that the move would benefit investors and regulators and the cost of compliance is exaggerated. Though introduced months

Municipals were weaker Thursday as mutual fund losses climbed another $1.4 billion, while U.S. Treasuries sold off five years and in and equities ended in the red as ongoing concerns over Fed policy hang over markets. Municipal triple-A yields rose two to three basis points while UST rose up to eight on the short end

Detroit, Chicago and San Diego are among the 26 cities and states that won federal dollars for projects that will improve the movement of freight across the country.   The popular Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) competitive grant program provides money to highway, freight and rail-related projects that eliminate bottlenecks, improve safety and have a

James Diossa, the former mayor of Central Falls, Rhode Island’s smallest city, won the state’s Democratic primary election for treasurer on Tuesday. He bested Stefan Pryor, former Rhode Island commerce secretary with 55% of the vote, according to results from the local election office. The victory advances Diossa towards a Nov. 8 general election showdown

A federal judge in California has denied municipal advisor Matthias O’Meara and his firm Choice Advisors’ move to dismiss the Securities and Exchange Commission charges that the firm was engaged in unregistered municipal advisor activities in violation of Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Rule G-42. The charges brought by the SEC last September are a first

Municipals saw losses across the yield curve, outperforming a U.S. Treasury selloff on the front end of the curve but facing larger losses out long, while equities tumbled following a hotter-than-expected inflation report. Two- and three-year muni-UST ratios are around 64% to 67%. The five-year was at 69%, the 10-year at 82% and the 30-year

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed litigation against Oppenheimer & Co. and separately announced settlements with BNY Mellon Capital Markets, TD Securities and Jefferies for failing to comply with municipal bond offering disclosure requirements in connection with limited offering exemptions. The charges represent a first of its kind for the Commission in addressing limited

Fitch Ratings upgraded New Jersey’s issuer default rating to A from A-minus and raised the ratings on the state’s $5.5 billion of general obligation bonds and $484 million of Garden State Preservation Trust revenue bonds that are linked to or capped by the state’s IDR. Fitch also raised the state’s qualified bond program and school

The fear of extreme weather and civic unrest has inspired investors of all sizes to buy environmental, social and governance (ESG) securities. The global ESG market has grown from $19 trillion in 2014 to a projected $55 trillion in 2022 due to such incredible demand.  Banks have appropriately responded by making it easier to invest

The Inflation Reduction Act offers a crutch, if not exactly a lifeline, to operating nuclear plants, a sector long plagued with high debt and fixed costs that may now be poised for a rebound thanks to national clean-energy goals. The IRA, which President Biden signed into law Aug. 16, provides $30 billion in production tax

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he favors “another significant” increase in interest rates when the central bank meets later this month, signaling his backing for a 75 basis-point move. “Inflation is far too high, and it is too soon to say whether inflation is moving meaningfully and persistently downward,” Waller said in the text